Teach Me How to Mommy

  When one of your best girl scout friends gets married to a cowboy fireman in Texas you go .   You take a personal day, you get on a plane at 4 in the morning, you get a couple layovers and you go. You leave your kids at the very beginning of the school year (not to mention your own beginning of the school year activities) and you go. You take your best friend as your date and leave your husband to take care of said kids and you go. You don’t sleep after the wedding (at all) and get right back on a plane so you can get home to put the kids to bed and get back in the classroom the next day. You do it because it’s worth it.   You do it because you stayed in a place with an infinity pool and armadillos.   You do it because you’ve never been to Texas and it’s good to try new things. You get a convertible instead of a Camry. You even pump and dump, because it’s what’s right and it doesn’t even hurt because you are having a blast. You d...

Saying bye to summer with one more magical beach night. After 8 months of beautiful maternity leave, it was time for me to return to work.  Well, it might not have been when I felt it was time, but the school year started, Lucy was starting kindergarten and Jerry gave me a gentle, encouraging nudge... In the weeks leading up, my nerves started to creep up.  I've done this twice already, cared, breastfed, snuggled, pacified and loved a baby until it was time to give them up for a few hours a day while I nurtured other people's kids.  I don't think it's natural and it's really hard - but at least I knew what to expect. Yet, I have three now.  I have the baby I am still breastfeeding and changing and now I also have a "baby" who goes to a new school on a school bus.  Then there's John - my classic middle child who is equal parts rough & tumble and sweet & sensitive. So I've been filled with a lot of "what if's"...

A few years ago I heard the phrase "self-care".  In fact, it was a doctor who looked me square in the face and asked me "what do you do for self-care?" I had (no joke) NEVER heard this phrase before.  NEVER.  It must have shown on my face, but she didn't even flinch and went on to ask what I did for myself.  Like without guilt to take care of myself.  I thought for a minute and listed off things like sleeping in once a week, morning showers, taking the long way home from work while listening to murder podcasts (the usual??) These apparently are not things that count as self-care.  (I mean I guess they are a little bit, but she wanted to examples of what I was doing to better my self-worth and happiness).  Even now that school started, I can't think of much -- actually,  sometimes I leave work early and eat my yogurt in my car and listen to my murder podcast for an extra 15 minutes. I find that recently there has even been a push for self-c...

Tuesday’s are for the Park. Had this idea.... and I hope you will join us!   This summer, we just want to play.   I then had this crazy idea that other people would want to play with us.   Problem - Weekends in the summer are intense  (does ANYONE even have a free weekend between now and Labor Day?). - How would we even see our friends?   We try and get out as much as possible -- but sometimes it’s really hard to make plans with everyone, and there’s ALWAYS friends who we TRY to see but it never works out…   The Solution A standing Tuesday Playdate!!! Every Tuesday we will be getting out of the house and heading to a park!   A different park around CT. Earlier in the day usually feels better for us-- and many of the parks/splash pads open around 9 or 10 am -- if we get there early, we will get prime parking, it's not too hot yet, it gets us up and out the door, and maybe will even get us a car nap on the way ...

Summer Is In The Air! During normal years we are prepping students for final exams and finishing up report cards, all while making a hand-written "Summer Bucket List" to accomplish with our own kids.  But this year I've been focused on preschool concerts, field days and end of the year parties.  Maternity leave has given me so much time with the baby, but also, luckily, time with Lucy and John. You know what maternity is not giving me though?  Money.  I haven't made any money since that measly six weeks of recovery time I received back in January.  So even though it's summer and I do have a list of things I want to do with the kids, we have to be sensible.  Over the past couple of weeks, Amy & I, and our kids, have been researching, checking out locations, picking our work besties brains, and documenting our ideas for summer.  You don't have to be on a budget like us to enjoy these things, but who doesn't love a bargain? 1.  Parks...

I really don't, but I'll listen to one. I know these days you're not supposed to say, "I don't have time" for things, because in actuality we do.  If I cut out a workout, did a little less cleaning and got rid of all the social media on my phone then I'd probably have time to read a series of parenting books.  However, there are some things that bring me joy and I am not willing to part with them (yet). Which is why I'd like to offer a quick recommendation.  Amy and I both listen to podcasts.  I know she listens on her commute and I find time while I am cleaning at night or the rare times I am able to complete a workout without numerous little people screaming my name.  One of our favorites is Dax Shepard's Armchair Expert .  It's relatively new so don't feel like you'll have to sketch a year of your life to catch up. This week he had a child psychologist ( Dr. Wendy Mogel) come on and chat about parenting (in today's worl...

Note to self:   When approaching a big milestone (like sending your daughter off to kindergarten) make sure you and your husband (or partner) are on the same page. This week we took Lucy to her kindergarten orientation.  She seemed to adjust great.  She walked in with a skip, was whisked away by teachers to a classroom and came back with stories to tell. Her parents on the other hand?  A little off our game.  We got there "just" in time.  We were called last (to meet with the principal) and therefore allowed our nerves to get the best of us.  During the "interview" we struggled with how to adequately express what a doll Lucy is without looking like the parents who think their child walks on water.  In the end, I don't know if she understood that Lucy is kind, patient and hard-working (all to a fault).  Instead, I think she saw sweaty-palmed newbies who struggled with basic questions. We'll know better with the second kid, pros ...